Recent Commercial Posts

No Job is Too Big or Too Small

10/19/2023 (Permalink)

Equipment in hallway Commercial Building Water Damage. Call now at (310) 822-7800.

When owning a commercial property, you want to be able to maintain a professional look. Any source of damage can ruin the appearance that appeals to your associates and customers. With the water needing to be mitigated, and the amount of time it usually takes to fully restore the property, it can cause a loss to the business and start to affect revenue if it isn’t handled properly. There had been a recent water loss at a commercial building caused by a failing sprinkler system. The caller had been slightly unsettled with the situation and was not sure how to handle it. Here at SERVPRO of Mar Vista, we make sure to take great care of our customers. We assured them that we were there to help and take the matter into our own hands. Being a commercial building, many of the tenants were worried about canceling appointments and losing clients. With that in mind, our experienced technicians mitigated all the water off the property without disrupting day-to-day business. No job is too big or too small. With any emergency situation, SERVPRO of Mar Vista will be ready 24/7, 365. Our friendly team will be here, ready to assist you when needed. Give us a call at (310) 822-7800.

Earthquake in a Commercial Building

9/15/2023 (Permalink)

Seismometer SERVPRO of Mar Vista Commercial Clean Up. Call now at (310) 822-7800

Before 

Make a supply kit

-  Make a supply kit that has food, water, first aid kid, batteries, a flashlight, and a fire extinguisher. 

Secure items

- Secure the items that are hanging on the walls and ceiling to reduce falling objects that may lead to injuries. 

Practice

Have training sessions on what to do in case of an earthquake. Have a game plan and practice it.

During

Drop, Cover, and Hold On. 

- Drop down to the floor. Hide under a surface that can protect your body. Hold on to the object as if your life depends on it. 

Do NOT use the elevator. 

- During an earthquake the elevator can apply its emergency breaks. 

Stay inside until the shaking has stopped

- Running outside during an earthquake can be dangerous. Running during an earthquake increases the chances of falling objects that can cause you more harm. 

After

Check your injuries

Examine your body thoroughly to ensure that you have no injuries. Make it a priority to seek medical attention as soon as possible. Do not take your injuries lightly. 

Damaged building

- Avoid going into any building that appears to be damaged. 

If the building you are in is damaged, leave the building and move away from it. 

Steps of a Water Mitigation In a Commercial Building

8/30/2022 (Permalink)

Flooded building SERVPRO of Mar Vista Commercial Building. Call now at (310) 822-7800

1. Extract all the standing water from the flooring. Since the carpet pad acts like a sponge and absorbs all the water, the carpet pad will be removed. After removing the carpet pad we will extract the water from the carpet and let our dehumidifier dry the carpet and save it from any damage. If any other floor types are affected we will place the appropriate equipment to attempt to dry in place.  

2. Conduct moisture readings on all floors and rooms to make sure all areas that are affected are marked and get the appropriate treatment. 

3. Place proper equipment to attempt to dry in place the affected walls, ceilings, and flooring.

4. If the affected materials do not dry out, the demo would have to commence. It is important to treat all areas that are wet to make sure the mold does not form. 

5. Once the cavities are open, the equipment will dry out any material that is holding on to moisture i.e., wood framing. The materials will need to reach the drying standard before the build-back can commence. 

6. Build back on all open cavities. 

"Like it never even happened."

Maintaining Your Commercial Building

8/30/2022 (Permalink)

Buildings SERVPRO of Mar Vista Emergency Ready Profile. Call now at (310) 822-7800.

- Have frequent inspections. Have HVAC, roof, grounds, and interior inspections regularly. Upgrade your building with the recommendations from the inspectors. Upkeeping your building may sound like a big investment. However, repairing damages that can have been prevented can cost much more. 

- If any damage occurs to the building, make sure to properly fix them before the damage increase. Trying to cut costs and save money might sound like a good idea on paper. However, if the damages are not properly fixed you can easily spend much more on secondary damages. 

- Make sure the building is ready for any disaster. Update the building regularly with ready-to-use emergency supplies that can save lives. 

- Call us today to set up your Emergency Ready Profile. This allows you to create a profile with SERVPRO of Mar Vista and in an event of mold, fire, or water damage disaster we immediately attend to the loss site and expedite the process. 

What You Should Pack in a Emergency Kit

2/18/2022 (Permalink)

Emergency kit SERVPRO of Mar Vista Commercial Clean Up. Call now at (310) 822-7800

Natural disasters are unexpected and destructive. It is important to plan for the next natural disaster accordingly. You never know when a disaster can strike which is why it is important to prepare a kit for your home, work, and vehicle. According to Ready.gov, you should have the following in your emergency kit:  

- One gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation

- At least a three-day supply of non-perishable food

- Battery-powered or hand-crank radio and an NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert

Flashlight

- First aid kit

-Extra batteries

-Whistle to signal for help

-Dust mask to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place

-Moist towelettes, garbage bags, and plastic ties for personal sanitation

-Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities

-Manual can opener for food

-Local maps

-Cell phone with chargers and a backup battery

Business Fire Tips

2/18/2022 (Permalink)

Firemen putting out a fire SERVPRO of Mar Vista fire clean up. Call today at (310) 822-7800

As a business owner, it is very important to make sure your building and your staff are both prepared for a fire. According to ConFire they have suggested the following for fire preparation. 

How to prepare your building for a fire: 

  • Escape route diagrams: Highlight primary and secondary exits, accessible routes for those with disabilities, and exterior assembly areas. Also, label manual fire alarm pull stations, fire extinguishers, standpipe stations, and fire alarm controls inside the building as well as fire lanes and fire hydrants on the exterior.
  • Evacuation policies and procedures: The plan should outline evacuation routes, crowd control techniques, procedures for assisting people with disabilities, and preferred methods for reporting fires to the fire department.
  • Responsibilities of specific staff members: Decide whether to instruct employees to use fire extinguishers or evacuate immediately. Specify rescue and medical duties if any workers are designated to perform them. Assign a specified person to stay behind and conduct or shut down critical plant operations, if applicable.

How Can I Train My Employees to Prevent a Fire?


While preparedness is essential in a fire emergency, proper preventative training may keep a fire from igniting in the first place. Teach your team to do the following:

Keep up with maintenance, such as cleaning a commercial kitchen’s exhaust hoods based on the required schedule to reduce flammable grease buildup.
Store flammable items such as paper products, linens, and boxes away from heat sources and cooking surfaces.
Ensure ample ventilation when using cleaning products and other chemicals in areas with heat sources.
Dispose of cardboard boxes and wood pallets daily so they don’t pile up.
Smoke outdoors and dispose of cigarette butts properly.
Keep hallways and emergency exits clear in case an evacuation must occur.

While preparedness is essential in a fire emergency, proper preventative training may keep a fire from igniting in the first place. Teach your team to do the following:

  • Keep up with maintenance, such as cleaning a commercial kitchen’s exhaust hoods based on the required schedule to reduce flammable grease buildup.
  • Store flammable items such as paper products, linens, and boxes away from heat sources and cooking surfaces.
  • Ensure ample ventilation when using cleaning products and other chemicals in areas with heat sources.
  • Dispose of cardboard boxes and wood pallets daily so they don’t pile up.
  • Smoke outdoors and dispose of cigarette butts properly.
  • Keep hallways and emergency exits clear in case an evacuation must occur.